for it is written, If any one be in Chrift, he is a new creature, old things are past away, behold all things are become new! Which leads me, THIRDLY; To fhew that there is in believers, not a perfection of fincerity, and of parts only; but alfo of meafure, or degrees. But this doth not confift in his receiving any thing new, or having any thing added, in nature or quality, to what he hath already received from CHRIST by the Spirit; but it is a continual receiving more and more by faith of that divine nature, fpirit, life, and power, whereby it was firft quickened, and made a new creature in CHRIST. It is plain then that every true Chriftian, from the time of his effectual calling into the knowledge and fellowship of JESUS CHRIST, hath the true knowledge, and fear, and love of GOD formed in him, and imparted to him, altho' for a feafon GOD make it not to grow, at least not in fuch a manner as to fatisfy the defires and longings of the renewed mind: Yet the believer is united to CHRIST, as a branch in the vine, and hath alfo GOD for his Father, and the HOLY SPIRIT dwelleth in him: And what can he have more, but a further increase, according to his new state and principles, in the knowledge and enjoyment of GOD, thro' CHRIST, by the SPIRIT. And thus a Chriftian, as a Chriftian, or the new and inner man, man, which is fpiritually joined, and infeparably united to the Lord JESUS, grows up to manhood,. increafing with the increase of GOD: And as the new man grows in ftature, wisdom, and strength, it puts off the old man, fubduing and mortifying the deeds of the body, whereby it becomes more and more conformed to CHRIST, its living Head, whofe life is practically manifefted in our mortal bodies, until we know what it is to walk even as CHRIST alfo walked; and the full growth of the new man is its perfection. But there is not in every one an equal measure when they arrive to their fulness, either as to fize or fruitfulness: For as in nature fome perfons are taller and ftronger, and confequently are more capable of being profitable than others; fo it is in the Kingdom of Grace. The branches in the vine alfo are not of equal bignefs, nor alike fruitful; yet in as much as they grow in the vine, and bear fruit, the prudent hufbandman will not cut them off, and caft them away because others are more fruitful than they. CHRIST alfo hath weak members in his myftical body and lambs in his flock, which he continues to fupport, and care for as really as he doth for his fheep; yea he seems as if he had a more tender care for them than those that are ftronger, because their feebleness requires it; for it is written, he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bofom: And as Jacob his fervant led his flock, fo CHRIST gently leads Mm 3 them them that are with young. Now every one's pertection is his full growth, whereby, thro' the Spirit, he brings forth fruit unto God, in the place and ftation which he hath affigned him, according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Some therefore can never arrive to that flature, nor be fo abundantly fruitful as others: Hence CHRIST, Comparing his Churches to good ground wherein the feed of God's word is fown, and received by them; faith that fome brought forth an hundred fold, and fome but thirty; and yet both brought forth fruit unto perfection. Now as the new man grows more and more towards perfection; every member, part, and faculty must be proportionably increased, until they arrive to their full growth. Therefore his underftanding in the knowledge of CHRIST muft increafe, and his love to GoD and his commandments wax ftronger and ftronger continually; until the believer is perfect in the growth of every part, thoroughly furnished unto all good works: Accordingly we read in Scripture of perfect faith*, perfect hope †, perfect love, perfect understanding, perfect patience §, and perfelling boliness in the fear of God.The per fection of faith in Abraham is particularly mentioned, who therefore is set forth as an example for us to follow; Seeft thou, faith the Apostle, how faith wrought with his works? and by works was faith Jam. ii. 22. || 1 Cor. xiv. 20. + 1. Pet. i. 13. 11 John iv, 18. faith made perfect. He heartily and chearfully did that great work which God commanded him, and was bleffed in his deed; hence by works his faith was made perfect: Or it may be understood that his faith was manifefted to be fo; for in obedience to a divine command, without difputing or doubting of God's power or faithfulness, he readily offered Ifaac his fon upon the altar. Doubtless his faith must be perfect, that enabled him to obey this moft trying command, perhaps the most difficult that GOD ever called any of his people to do: For what could exceed the facrificing of his only fon, and that with his own hand? Had he been put to the choice whether he would have laid down his own life (than which there can be no greater evidence of faith and love towards GOD) or facrificed his beloved, his only fon Ifaac; it is highly probable, that without the leaft hesitation, he would have preferred the former to the latter: But by this amazing work of obedience, he plainly fhewed that his faith in GOD was perfect. In fome places the Scripture feems to mean by perfection, fuch a growth, and establishment in grace as is fufficient to keep the believer from being feduced or mifled, by falfe teachers and erroneous doctrines; and to make him bold and ftedStaft in the faith, against all the oppofition of his adverfaries. In this fenfe it is to be understood comparatively; as he that knows how to distinguish clearly betwixt found, and corrupt doctrines; that M m 4 which which is according to godlinefs, and that which is not fo; fuch a one is perfect, when compared with him in whom there is not that knowledge: In this fenfe the Apostle feems to use it, where he faith; we fpeak wisdom among them that are perfect; and again, be not children in understanding, but in understanding be men; or, as it is in the Greek, and is fo rendered in the margin, be perfet. Again; he that is ftrong, fo as to overcome the wicked one, is perfect, when compared with him that is weak, and foiled by the enemy: Thus Peter feems to fpeak of our being perfect, as a certain attaininent in ftrength, whereby the believer is eftablished and fettled: Saint James alfo tells us, that if any offend not in word, the fame is a perfect man, and abie alfo to bridle the whole body: And St. Paul appears to mean the very fame, where he faith, Let as many of us as be perfect, be thus minded; that is, ftill advance forward in the knowledge of CHRIST, increafing with the increase of GOD: For that he did not count this his uttermoft and proper perfection, which he was called of GOD to follow after, is evident from what he faid before; not as tho' I bad already attained, either were already perfect; but I prefs toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of GOD in CHRIST JESUS.John calls them that had attained thus far young men, who were ftrong, and had overcome the wicked one; but he speaks of others who, compared with thefe, were babes, or little children; and again he fpeaks of fome who had gone yet farther, |